More strenuous testing for subsurface safety valves and other safety equipment

The Southwest Research Institute (SwRI) Nitrogen Blowdown Facility has succeeded astatine recreating the aggravated conditions of a state event, making it imaginable to trial subsurface information valves' (SSSV) quality to withstand associated state travel rates astatine precocious pressures to forestall injury, nonaccomplishment of beingness and biology effects.

Part of SwRI's Flow Component Testing Facilities (FCTF), the Nitrogen Blowdown Facility recorded its highest-ever nitrogen travel rate: 310 cardinal modular cubic feet per time (MMscfd) astatine 2,400 pounds per quadrate inch gauge (psig). With this caller modular set, SwRI present offers much strenuous investigating for subsurface information valves and different information and contamination prevention equipment, particularly arsenic the energy industry looks toward cleaner energy.

SwRI is expanding its valve investigating capabilities to see evaluating existing SSSVs for c seizure and retention (CCS) applications. In caller years, lipid and state companies person begun a modulation toward cleaner vigor alternatives.

One specified displacement is aimed astatine capturing and sequestering c dioxide (CO₂) to trim greenhouse emissions. Locations presently being considered for CO₂ retention are mostly subsurface, specified arsenic caverns, reservoirs oregon depleted lipid wells. SSSVs volition beryllium utilized for safeguarding these retention applications.

"The Institute has provided third-party SSSV validation investigating since 1975," said Christopher Jowers, main technologist with SwRI's Fluids Engineering Department. "Since that time, we person continually expanded our third-party investigating relation successful the improvement of caller SSSVs and much to guarantee that we conscionable manufacture needs. The request for CCS applications is worldwide, and it is thing SwRI tin assistance with."

According to Jowers, SwRI has seen a emergence successful investigating request for instrumentality that tin grip CCS applications. Many lipid and state companies privation to guarantee that existing valves and information measures volition enactment for CO₂ retention and withstand the related challenges.

"CO₂ retention is simply a challenging exertion for subsurface information valves to withstand due to the fact that the fluid tin beryllium precise acold and tin besides go a coagulated nether definite conditions," said Nicole Lemon, probe technologist with SwRI's Fluids Engineering Department. "Test parameters are overmuch antithetic than emblematic lipid and state accumulation applications, due to the fact that the properties of CO₂ alteration much dramatically based connected somesthesia and accrued pressure, which could pb to a unsafe state merchandise event. Due to this, accrued safety measures are required for immoderate investigating programme with CO₂."

Investigating however existing SSSV designs execute astatine cold temperatures successful CCS applications is captious anterior to semipermanent service. SwRI has acquisition with cryogenic and utmost acold testing, and the Institute is prepared to assistance the vigor manufacture measure existing SSSV designs and trial recently developed hardware.

"There are a batch of considerations that indispensable spell into testing," Lemon said. "With SwRI's caller capabilities, we tin trial existing SSSVs up to existent standards arsenic good arsenic test caller innovations successful the technology."

SwRI's facilities are accredited done the American Petroleum Institute (API) to execute validation investigating connected some aboveground and subsurface information valves. The facilities besides accommodate information investigating connected different downhole safety, riser isolation and wellhead valves. All investigating is completed nether API Q1 and ISO 17025 prime absorption systems.

SwRI engineers volition beryllium exhibiting the Institute's CO₂ SSSV investigating capabilities, arsenic good arsenic the different FCTF valve investigating capabilities, astatine the Valve World Americas Expo & Conference successful Houston, Texas Oct. 13–14 astatine booth no. 405.

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